Two new awards open to help young farmers progress to farm ownership
Entries have opened for two awards in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme, aimed at helping young farmers progress to farm ownership.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has told co-op employees that more work is needed to turn the business around.
“We are making good progress on our plan to turn our business around: we’re not there yet,” he said in an email to staff last week.
“Some tough calls are still needed to put us on the right path.”
Fonterra employees won’t be paid bonuses for the 2018-19 year. No salaried staff earning over $100,000 will get a pay rise in 2019-20.
A remuneration review will still occur for salaried employees earning under $100,000. Waged employees who are part of a collective agreement aren’t impacted.
Hurrell says this has been a tough call, but it’s also the right one.
“Together as a cooperative we must do what’s right, working together to reset our business and get us back to a position where we can be proud of our financial performance.”
He thanked staff for their hard work in helping lift performance and reset the business.
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Animal welfare is of paramount importance to New Zealand's dairy industry, with consumers increasingly interested in how food is produced, not just the quality of the final product.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith believes there is potential for an increase in dairy farming in New Zealand.